Radwanska has had plenty of success at Asian events in the past, including titles in Tokyo and Beijing in 2011 en route to securing qualification for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships - Istanbul. However, she is in the midst of a title drought by her standards, having not won one since January.

As for Kirilenko, her season has included cracking the Top 10 and though she has descended a bit since then, she often is in fine form in Seoul. She captured the title in 2008 and was runner-up in 2007. In fact, four of her six WTA titles have come on Asian soil.

A potential second round foe for Kirilenko is the only other former Seoul champion in this year's draw. Kimiko Date-Krumm became the second-oldest Open Era WTA titlist with her triumph in 2009 one day shy of her 39th birthday.

At the Guangzhou Open's inaugural staging in 2004, Li Na became the first Chinese WTA singles titlist. China's Yan Zi won the next year, but since then none of their countrywomen have been crowned here. The best Chinese hope this year would seem to lie with former Top 15 player and 2008 Guangzhou runner-up Peng Shuai. However, Peng should be challenged right off the bat in the form of first round opponent and 2009 Guangzhou champ Shahar Peer.